In a significant legal move, attorneys for Jay-Z filed a request on Wednesday for a swift resolution to distance the rapper from a lawsuit in which a woman claims she was sexually assaulted by both him and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs when she was just 13 years old.
The woman, who remains anonymous, recently added Jay-Z, legally recognized as Shawn Carter, to her civil case against Combs filed in Manhattan federal court. She alleges that the two artists attacked her in 2000 following Combs’ limo driver offering her a ride to an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
In their legal document submitted on Wednesday, Jay-Z’s legal team pointed to a recent television interview where the woman acknowledged some inconsistencies in her account of the events.
This filing came ahead of Combs’ appearance at a pretrial hearing related to his criminal case. During this hearing, attorneys addressed deadlines for presenting evidence, as prosecutors informed Judge Arun Subramanian that any forthcoming charges against Combs prior to a May trial would necessitate minimal additional evidence exchange among attorneys.
In his criminal case, Combs has pleaded not guilty to accusations that he coerced and abused women for years with assistance from various associates and staff members. Currently, Combs has been detained without bail for three months; he displayed emotion, embracing his lawyers and acknowledging his children among the audience present in the courtroom.
In the civil lawsuit—one of several leveled against him—the woman initially claimed she was raped by Combs during the after-party, without initially implicating Jay-Z.
Recently, during an NBC interview, the woman mentioned interacting with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party, noting that her father picked her up post-alleged assault. However, NBC also reported that a representative for the Maddens indicated they were on tour in the Midwest during the VMAs, and her father stated he has no memory of a five-hour drive home.
Jay-Z has stated that the recent developments validate his assertion that Tony Buzbee, a personal injury attorney based in Houston, initiated a baseless claim against him aimed at achieving financial gain and notoriety. Combs’ lawyer, Teny R. Geragos, also suggested that the TV appearance marked the “beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.”
In the newly submitted court documents, Jay-Z’s legal team emphasized that the allegations “have caused incalculable harm to Mr. Carter, his family, his businesses, his employees, and his legacy.”
In response to the latest filing, Buzbee stated through email correspondence that the plaintiffs’ attorneys planned to present their rebuttal in court. “They continue to file meritless motions that are contrary to the rules and which have absolutely no merit,” he asserted.
Buzbee also announced in October that he represents approximately 120 individuals—men and women—who have lodged accusations of sexual misconduct against Combs.
Both Jay-Z and Combs rose to prominence in the 2000s, establishing themselves as versatile entrepreneurs and becoming two of the wealthiest figures in the rap industry. Recently, Forbes estimated Jay-Z’s net worth at an impressive $2.5 billion.
Over the years, the two artists have collaborated on numerous projects, with Jay-Z featuring on Combs’ debut album, “No Way Out,” while Combs made an appearance on Jay-Z’s second album, “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”
